Apparatus for dispensing measured charges of fluent material



Jan. 30, 1940. .l4 P. CRANDALL. Z,l88,676

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING MEASURED CHARGES 0F FLUENT MATERIAL Filed Nov. 9, 1938 A TTO/Q/VEKS Patented Jan.r30, v194() iv I -UNITEDsTATi-:sf

"PATENT oFFicE APPARATUS Foa DIsPENsiNG MEASURED CHARGES4 or FLUEN'r MATERIAL John P. Crandall, Buffalo, N.' Y. Application November 9, r1938,v Serial. No.'j239,667 5 claims. (ol. 221%84) following description 'of the apparatus to desig` f natethe materials handled by the same, but it is to be understoodthat it is not thereby intended to restrict use of the invention to liquids as distinguished from other fluent substances adapted to be dispensed by the apparatus.

.The objects of the invention are to provide a y desirable and efficient mechanism of simple, inexy device.

pensive construction by means of 'which fluent substances can be dispensed in, or receptacles filledwith, measured quantities or charges of one or anotherv predetermined volume for which the mechanism may be set or adjusted; also to provide such a mechanism7 having a valved discharge device which acts" automatically to shut olf the discharge of, the'material promptly after the delivery of each measured quantity thereof and pre-` vent dribbling, waste or surplus discharge of the material; which discharge device' is'act'uated'automatically by the supply pressure-of the material; and also toprovide a dispensing or receptacle filling apparatus which has the other features of improvement and advantage .hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the `accompanying drawing? Fig. 1 is a partially schematic view showing, partly in elevation and partly in section, a dispensing `mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the discharge head or device thereof, showing the discharge valvev closed. 1

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the discharge device showing the vopen position of the valve.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections of the discharge device on lines 4-4 and 5-5 respectively, Fig. 2.

Figs. 6 and 7 .are sectional views of the control orcharge supply valve of the mechanism,

' showing two different open positions thereof.

Referring iirst to Fig. 1, the dispensin'g'apparatus comprisesavalved discharge head or device III-and measuring mechanism including 4a control or supply valve II for delivering the liquid in measured quantities or charges from a source of liquidsupply under pressure to the discharge The measuring or control mechanism may be of various dierent suitable types or co`npressure in successive, like or. measured quantities to the dischargedevice.

Asillustratedin the drawing, this measuring mechanism comprises a pipe or conduit I2 which leads from a pump or other source (not shown) for supplying the liquid' under pressure. This pipe I2 is connected to the casing of the controlA valve II which,.in turn, is connected by a delivery pipe or conduit I3 'with the discharge head III rlhe casing of the control valve is also connected by pipes or conduits I4 and Iiiv with oppovdisposed at 90 angles apart, .as shown in Figs. 6

and 7. 'Arranged to oscillate in the valve chamber is a circular` valve plug I8 provided with two ports` I9 and- 20. `l'n the position of the valve shown in'Fig. '7, the ports I9 and 20 connect theA supply pipe I2 with the pipe I4, and the pipe I5 with'the discharge pipe I3, while in the other position of the valve shown in Fig. 6, the supply pipe I2 is connected with the pipe I5, and the delivery pipe i3 is connected with the pipe I4. v

The valve plug I8 is adapted to be moved from l one to the other of these different positions by suitable means, such for example, as an arm 2| attached to one end of the valve plug I8 and connected by a'link or rod 22 to an operating foot treadle l23; Bydepressing this treadle, the valve p-lug is rotated from the position shown in Fig. 7,

`through an angle of `90 which carries its ports `I9 and 20 to the position shown in Fig. A6. Pref- I erably the valve is automatically returnedr to its initial position (indicated in Figs. l and` '7) by vsuitable means,'such as ay spring 24 which, as diagrammatically represented in Fig. l, may be attached rat one end to the treadle 23 and at the ,other end to apart 25 of the supporting frame (not shown) for the mechanism, or any other suitable anchorage means.

In the position ofthe control valve shown in Fig. 6, the liquid under pressure will pass,fas indilcated :by the arrows in said figure, from the supply pipe through the port IEi'and pipe l5 into the lower end of the measuring cylinder I6 beneath a piston 26 therein and raise the piston in the cylinder until it isarrested by engagement with an adjustable stop 2l, the liquid in the cylinder abovethe piston being forced by the upwardly moving piston out through the pipe I4 and valve yportl 20 .into the delivery pipe I3 and .discharge device y Ill. When the control valve is moved to the Fig. I position, the liquid under pressurewill f pass. from the supply pipe I2 through :the valve port I9 and pipe I4 intothe upper end ofthe "measuring cylinder, and move the pistonV 26 60 (il l downwardly until arrested by ar suitable stop 28 in the lower end of the cylinder, the liquid in the cylinder beneath the piston being forced out by the downwardly moving piston throughthe pipe it and yvalve port into the delivery pipe' |3 and discharge head llLas indicated by the arrows in said Fig. '7. n liquid, of a volume determined by the length of travel of the piston in the cylinder I-G'gisdelivered through the control valve Il to the discharge device each time the control valve is placed in either of the two open positions shown in Figs. 6 and 7, by the operation o-f the treadle.v

The volume of the quantity of the liquid delivered to the discharge device is predetermined as desired, by appropriate adjustment of the piston stop 2l. This stop, as shown, is formedV by a' rod. arranged axially in the upper portion of the cylinder and having a screw threaded' portion extending out through and adapted to turn ina screwy threaded hole in the upper head 'of the cylinder, the outer end of the stop rod being provided with a knob or handle29for turning it to adjust it up or down, as desired, in the cylinder.

The discharge, head or device I0 comprises a vbody or casing 30 which is suitably secured with a liquid-tight joint tothe outer end of the delivery pipe I3. At its outer end, this body 3'is "f provided with vertically alined upperv andlower chambers 3l and 32 yseparatedby a partition wall 33. The upper chamber communicates by a horizontal passage 3dr in the body with the adjacent end of the delivery pipe I3, and is connected by a passage `35 with the lower chamber 32'. The flow of the liquid-through this connecting passage can be suitably regulatedv as by a screw 35a projecting into the passage and adapted to more orv less restrict the passage by adjusting the screw in or out; A tubular discharge nozzle 3@ having a downwardly tapered or irusto-conical, lower end projects out of the lower end ci the lower chamber 32. In the construction shown in the drawing, this nozzle is formed formed in the body 33. The nozzle tube hasl a lhole in its side registering with the lowergend vol the connecting passage 35', by which the .nozzle communicates with the upper chamber 3l. Extending upwardly from the body 30 in com- 'munication with the upper chamber 31 and in axial alinement with the` nozzle tube 36is an open-ended cylinder 40 which, as shown, may be formed by a tube having a screw-threaded lower end screwed into an internally threadedv boss on the body 3.3.

Axially movable in the'dischargenozzl'e is a valve plug 44 having a frusto-conical lower end adapted to seat in and close the tapered lowerl end of the nozzle. Above its tapered, circular lower end portion, the sides of the valve plug are preferably grooved lengthwiseat 42, see Fig. 5, to reducethe area of its upper end and form channels for the free iiowV of liquid past the yvalve plug when in its raised or open position. This valve isfixed to or formedon the lowerendv of arod 43 which extends up through a holein thepartiticn Wall..33 and intothe cylinder dll-andv has Thus, a measured quantity ofthe witted-tothe measuring cylinder lli will dischargey y n fironr the nozzle into the receptacley'fWhen thev upward movement of the piston-Z-,in the measluri fixed or formed thereon a piston 44 whichfis.- movable up anddownin the cylinder 4K0. This piston maybe.l provided with cupped, flexible packing washersor other suitable vpacking `which will sudabiy et the incernaisurface ofthe cyiins der and prevent passage of liquid inthe rcylinder past the piston so that the piston'is adapted to be raised in the cylinder bythe pressure therey, onof theliquidin the chamber 3l and the lower end .of the cylinder. Preferably, the valve or above' the piston and kis i providedabove the piston with aV- guide. portion l5 of approximately square or other non-circular cross section havingv g spaced, vertical guide edges engaging ythe wall -la ot the cylinder 'for guidingwthemovements of the pistontherein. Connected` tothe piston'zrod above this guide portion. in the cylinder, isla ,by an additional weight attached toits upper end.

with and extending. upwardly from vthe passageia 3ft* and'clo-sed at kupjglerfend. The liquid is adapted to rise and fall tosome extent in'this` chamber, determined by an air cushion trapped in the chamber above 'theliquid f- By the described construction of the discharge???5 head, the bottom plateg3'i.v can be removed andl the nozzle tube 35, together'with thevalve 4|-,v partition disk 33 piston M and its rod and. the weight :,scana,ll be pulledout oi the discharge i head, thust permitting ready-assembling and dis-` in a'ssemblingand cleaning of all the parts. The

piston. rod is shoulderedvasvl shown', above and be'-` lolw the partition diskfsi, the lower shoulderv limitingt'he openingmovement ofthe valve and f pistonand` the other shoulder acting` to jremove,{i5` the.. disk whenA pulling the valve andv other parts outof the-head'. The'. operation of the apparatusior vfilling re-V ceptaclesiwith 'lilre measured charges of liquid,

assuming-.che .disCnargevawe cre to be closed, than@ control valve lle' in the position shown in 1, l

and the dischargehead-a'nd the pipes lledwith the liquid, is' asfollows: y

.Ai receptacle V'is .placed under the?- discha-rge y nozzleandthe trea'dle depressed to shift the 'con-vb piston'itherein until it is arrested by the upper'm,

stop 27. This upward movement ofithefpiston forces amountof liquid fromthe 'cylinderv abovey v4the piston equal to i the amount of liquid admitted to,` the cylinder belowv thepistony-out through-.the pipe It and control valve intocs delivery. pipe. I3. This increases the pressure of s the liquidi inthe discharge head .andliits the piston M to the position shown in Fig` 3,- thusy lifting the. valve LH and opening thefrdischarge" nnzzle, andi a volume ci liquid equal tothat adfgyc @cylinder -isj arrested, pressure will-no `longer 'l beexertedyonfthe liquidpin- :the ress .slllilig:cylinder,-7

10V piston rod t3` extends upwardly in the cylinder An'air chamber. 5!) is` formed in the discharge device. body' 3u: communicating at* its lower-endvi 'above the piston and in the discharge head, and the piston 44 will be lowered by the weight 46 and move the valve down to its seat in the discharge nozzle, thus shutting oi the discharge.

vThis downward movement of the piston "4 by the weight is permitted by a displacement of the liquid below the piston into the air chamber U suincient for the closing movementv of the piston. The discharge valve only has to mo-ve a short distance from its open position and quickly and completely closes the nozzle upon the delivery of the measured charge of liquid from the nozzle. The treadle is then released and its spring raises it and returns the control valveA Il toits initial' position, shown in Fig. 7, and during the return movement of the treadle and valve, the filled receptacle is removed from beneath the nozzle and replaced by an empty receptacle. This return of the valve to initial position permits the liquid to pass from the supply pipe Athrough the valve and pipe i4 into the upper end of the measuring cylinder i6, and the liquid to discharge from the lower end of the cylinder through the pipe l5 and valve H, thus delivering another measured charge of liquid to the discharge device and operating the latter as just above explained, to discharge this measured charge of the liquid.

The `liquid pressure in the discharge head acts in opposite directionson the valve plugflll and piston 1M, but operates to lift the piston and valve, since the area of the piston exposed to the pressure is larger than that of the valve. l While, as'

. liver successive like or measured quantities or vta charges of liquid under pressure to the discharge device. y

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus for dispensing fluent material in measured quantities, a. discharge device having a receiving chamber to. which the material is deliveredl in successive measured quantities under pressure, and a discharge chamber partitionedv therefrom and having a restricted communication therewith, a discharge nozzle communicating with said discharge chamber, a valve plug movable axially to and from a seatin said nozzle forclosing and opening said nozzle, a cylinder axially alined with said lnozzle and communicating with said receiving chamber, a piston movable in said cylinder and connected to said valve plug to move therewith, said piston being actuated by pressure thereon of the material in said receiving chamber to unseat said valve plug, and self-acting means which move said piston to seat said valve plug when the pressure on the material delivered to said chamber is interrupted.

' 2. In an apparatus for dispensing nuent material in measured quantities, a discharge device having a receiving chamber to which the ma` terial is delivered in successive measured quantities under pressure, and a discharge chamberv partitioned therefrom, a passage connecting said chambers, means for variably restricting said passage, a discharge nozzle 'communicating with said discharge chamber, a valve plug movable to and from a seat in said nozzle for closing and opening said nozzle, a valve operating member connected to said valve plug, said member being actuated by pressure thereon of the material in saidreceiving chamber to unseat said valve plug,

and self-acting means which move said member to seat said valve plug when the pressure on the material delivered to said chamber is interrupted. l

3. In an apparatus for dispensing uent material in measured quantities, a discharge devicev having a receiving chamber to Which the material ris delivered in successive measured quantities under pressure, and a discharge chamber comniunicating with but separatedv by 'a partition from said receiving chamber, a discharge nozzle communicating with said vdischarge chamber, av-

valve plug movable axially to and from a seat in said nozzle for closing and opening said nozzle, va cylinder axially alined withA said nozzle and communicating with said receiving chamber, a l

piston movable in said cylinder, a stem passing through said partition and connecting said piston to said valve plug, said piston and valve 'plug having unequal opposed areas on which the pres? sure of the material acts, the area of the piston being the larger and said piston being actuated by the pressure thereon to unseat said valve, and

self-acting means which move said piston to seat said valve plug when the pressure on the material delivered to said chamber is interrupted.

4. In an' apparatus for dispensing fluent `material in measured quantities, a discharge device having a chamber to which the material is delivered in successive measured quantities under pressure, a discharge nozzle communicating with said chamber by a restricted passage, a valve plug movable to and from a seat for closing and opening said nozzle, a valve operating member connected to said valve plug, said member being ac-l tuated by pressure thereon of the material in said chamber to unseat said valve plug, and self-'acting means which move said member to seat said valve plug when the pressure on the material delivered to said chamber is interrupted, said discharge device having an air cushion chamber in which a portion of the material may be displaced from said rst mentioned chamber during the movement of said member in seating the valve plug.

5. In an apparatus for dispensing fluent material in measured quantities, a discharge device having a chamber to which the material is delivered in successive measured quantities under pressure, a discharge nozzle communicating with said chamber by a restricted passage, a valve plug movable axially to and from a seat in said nozzle for closing and opening said nozzle, va cylinder axially alined with said nozzle and communicating with said chamber, a piston movable in said cylinder and connected to said valve plug,v

said piston being actuated by pressure thereon of the material in said chamber to unseat said valve plug, and self-acting means which move said seating the valve plug.

. JOHN P. CRANDALIZ. 

